Social media platforms shutting down pot shop pages

Marijuana suppliers in Las Vegas are racing to stock dispensary shelves just days out from the July 1 start of recreational sales (Nathan O'Neal | KSNV)

LAS VEGAS (KSNV News3LV) —

Facebook and Twitter are becoming a thorn in the side for legal marijuana dispensaries.

Shango said it’s been shut down four times. Each time they have to rebuild their social network.

It’s not just happening in Nevada, it’s happening across the U.S.

With two billion active monthly users on Facebook, it’s where many people get their information.

“Facebook, Google, anything like that, is basically the only way we’re going to find anything these days. So it would seem logical that I can use that to find whatever I need to,” said Josh, who only wanted to be identified by his first name.

You can share, like and even buy and sell on Facebook, but not dispensaries.

“Is it frustrating to start up another website on a social platform? Of course. It takes a little bit of time," said Matthew Gardiner, the VP of Shango Las Vegas.

Gardiner said each time they get shut down, they rebuild and their followers find them. “Immediately we start it back up," he said.

He said they follow the guidelines, but that’s not always enough.

“We continue to be advocates, we continue to post that information.” Gardiner added, “How to understand cannabis, how to understand different strains, how to understand different the qualities.” That, according to Facebook is allowed, but nothing that promotes the sale of pot.

Facebook issued this statement: "In order to maintain a safe environment on Facebook, we have Community Standards that describe what is and is not allowed on the service. Anyone can report content to us if they think it violates our standards. Our teams review these reports rapidly and will remove the content if there is a violation.”

“It seems really weird that a company like Facebook would restrict something that’s entirely legal now,” said Josh.

Budtender Aaron Umberger said his clients want to see information on the social sites that they use.

“There is a level of frustration among everyone, especially the millennials," he told us.

Time will tell if the rules relax, but Shango has high hopes.

“We’re not going anywhere. We’re going to continue to be here. And the first platform that accepts cannabis for what it really is, in the legal market, it’s going to own the Lion’s Share,” said Gardiner.